Medical Anatomy and Physiology
UNIT 5
- MUSCULAR SYSTEM
LECTURE NOTES
5.0I
MUSCLE TISSUE – FUNCTIONS
A. Motion by moving the skeletal levers of the body
B. Posture - stabilizing body positions
C. Regulation of organ volume
D. Thermogenesis - heat production
E. Protection of internal organs
5.02
CHARACTERISTICS OF MUSCLE TISSUE
A. Elasticity
The ability of muscle tissue to return to its normal resting length after it has
been stretched or contracted.
B. Excitability (Irritability)
The ability of muscle tissue to receive and respond to a stimulus such as a
nerve impulse.
C. Extensibility
The ability of muscle tissue to be elongated or stretched.
D. Contractility
The ability of muscle tissue to become short and thick while producing
movement.
5.03
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THREE MUSCLE TISSUE TYPES
A. Skeletal Muscle
1. Functions
a. Movement
b. Thermogenesis
c. Posture
d. Protection of internal organs
2. General Location
Attached to bones by tendons
3. Microscopic Appearance
a. Striated
Striped appearance created by alternating light (actin) and dark
(myosin) protein bands.
b. Multinucleated
Have more than one nucleus per cell
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4. Control
Voluntary control by conscious nervous system.
B. Smooth Muscle
1. General Location
Located in the walls of hollow internal organs such as the blood vessels,
stomach, intestines, urinary bladder, and the ureters.
2. Microscopic Appearance
a. Non-striated appearance
b. Individual fibers (cells) taper (narrow) at the ends
c. One nucleus per cell
3. Control
Involuntary
4. Functions
a. Controls the diameter of blood vessels
b. Peristalsis (wave-like contractions) to propel food and wastes through the
digestive system and to move urine from the kidneys to the urinary
bladder.
c. Muscular contractions to push urine out the urinary bladder.
C. Cardiac muscle
1. General Location
Forms the myocardium (middle, muscular layer) of the heart.
2. Microscopic Appearance
a. Striated muscle
b. Fibers branch to form networks throughout the tissue
c. Has a single, large, centrally located nucleus
d. Muscle fibers are held together by junctions known as intercalated disks
3. Control
Typically involuntary control
4. Functions
Contractions of the heart
5.04
THICK AND THIN MYOFILAMENTS
A. Actin
1. Thin, light-colored myofilaments
2. Actin myofilaments are anchored to the Z lines or boundaries of the
sarcomeres (the functional units of muscle contraction)
3. Composed of two single-stranded, intertwined protein molecules
4. Contain two regulatory proteins arranged along the actin
a. Tropomyosin
(1). Thread-like, intertwined protein molecules
(2). When the muscle fiber’s sarcomere is relaxed, tropomyosin
blocks actin’s active sites preventing cross-bridge formation with
myosin.
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b. Troponin
(1). Globular proteins composed of three subunits
(2). One subunit binds to actin, another binds to tropomyosin, and
the last subunit binds to Ca+.
B. Myosin
1. Thick, dark-colored myofilaments
2. Found in the center of the sarcomere
3. Alternate with the actin myofilaments to form striations
4. Shaped like a golf club
a. Long, thick protein molecule (tail)
b. Globular head at one end
5. Forms cross-bridges with actin molecules during muscle contraction.
5.05
THE SLIDING FILAMENT THEORY OF MUSCULAR CONTRACTION
A. Summary
During muscle contraction, the globular heads of the myosin attach to the
active sites of the actin myofilament and “ratchet” or swivel pulling the actin
towards the center of the sarcomere (unit of contraction). This causes the
actin myofilaments to slide past one another resulting in a shortening of a
sarcomere. The sarcomere shortens and the muscle contracts.
B. Events Leading To Muscular Contraction
1. An action potential (nerve impulse) travels from the brain transmitted by a
motor nerve. When it arrives at the motor end plate, the membrane of the
nerve at the synaptic cleft is depolarized, thereby increasing the Ca++
permeability of the membrane.
2. Ca++ diffuses from the area of greater concentration (outside the cell) to
the area of lesser concentration (inside the cell).
3. The influx of Ca++ into the nerve causes synaptic vesicles to be pushed to
the nerve membrane where they fuse and release the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine (Ach).
4. Ach is secreted into the synaptic cleft, diffuses across the cleft and
depolarizes the muscle membrane. This increases the permeability of Na+
through the membrane. Na+ rushes into the cell (down a concentration
gradient), thereby depolarizing the membrane further and initiating an
action potential. Ach is quickly broken down in the cleft by an enzyme,
Ach-ase, so that each action potential arriving from the nerve initiates only
one action potential within the muscle fiber.
5. The action potential spreads across the muscle membrane and down the
T-tubules (which are actually extensions of the membrane which go deep
into the muscle cell).
6. The action potential within the T-tubules depolarizes the membrane of the
nearby sarcoplasmic reticulum, which releases Ca++ into the sarcoplasm
(Ca+ is removed very quickly by the sarcoplasmic reticulum, so the effects
of one action potential are very short-lived and produce a very small
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contraction. Many action potentials are necessary to produce strong or
prolonged contractions).
7. The Ca+ is bound to troponin, and troponin changes shape.
8. When troponin changes shape, it physically moves tropomyosin out of the
way, thereby exposing the active sites on the actin.
9. Since the myosin heads have a very high attraction for the active sites on
actin, they make contact immediately after the active sites are exposed
forming a cross-bridge. Attached to each globular head is an ATP
molecule.
10. The actin-myosin complex contains the enzyme ATPase, and ATP is split
into ADP+P and energy is released.
11. The energy from the ATP is used to produce power-strokes or movement
of the myosin heads which slide the actin filaments past each other and
the muscle fiber contracts.
12. The myosin cross-bridge has low affinity for ADP, but very high affinity for
ATP. It therefore discards the ADP and becomes recharged with a new
ATP molecule. The myosin head releases its hold on actin, and returns
back to its original position, ready to act again.
13. The steps are repeated until the H zone disappears and the sarcomere is
contracted
5.06
THE NEUROMSUCULAR JUNCTION
I. Definitions
A. Motor Neuron
A nerve carrying impulses from the brain and stimulates muscles to contract.
B. Neuromuscular Junction
The end of the axon terminal where it attaches to the muscle fiber.
C. Motor End Plate
The location on the muscle fiber at the end of the axon terminal.
D. Acetylcholine (Ach)
The neurotransmitter released from the synaptic vesicles which initiates an action
potential in the muscle fiber.
II. What Occurs At the Neuromuscular Junction
A. Muscle fibers are stimulated to contract by motor neurons.
B. When the impulse is transmitted to the end of the motor nerve (the synaptic
knob), acetylcholine is released from small sacs called synaptic vesicles.
C. The acetylcholine fills in the small gap between the motor neuron and the muscle
fiber membrane, known as the neuromuscular junction.
D. The muscle fiber membrane then depolarizes and the muscle starts to contract.
E. The acetylcholine is destroyed by an enzyme known as cholinesterase.
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5.07
ORIGIN AND INSERTION
When muscles shorten and produce movement of the musculoskeletal lever
system, one body segment usually remains stable while the other body segment
produces angular motion. The body segment to which the muscle is attached,
that remains stable or stationary, is called the ORIGIN while the body segment to
which the muscle is attached that moves is called the INSERTION.
A. Origin
1. Body segment with the most mass
2. Usually more proximally located
3. Usually has a larger surface area of attachment
4. Typically the immovable end of the muscle
B. Insertion
1. Attached to body segment with least mass
2. Usually more distally located
3. Usually has smaller surface area of attachment
4. Typically the moveable end of the muscle
5.08
ROLES OF SKELETAL MUSCLES
The roles of skeletal muscles are not fixed, meaning they change depending
upon the particular movement that is being executed.
A. Agonist (Prime Mover)
The muscle that is responsible for the majority of force when a movement is
executed.
B. Antagonist
The muscle which performs the opposite movement of the agonist.
C. Synergist
A muscle that assists the agonist by providing additional force or directing the
force of the agonist so the movement can be most effectively executed.
D. Fixator (Stabilizer)
A muscle that functions to stabilize a point or body position.
5.09
MUSCLE IDENTIFICATION
A. Identify the following muscles or muscle groups on a diagram:
1. biceps brachii
7. pectoralis major
2. triceps brachii
8. latissimus dorsi
3. sternocleidomastoid
9. gastrocnemius
4. trapezius
10. hamstrings
5. deltoid
11. quadriceps
6. diaphragm
12. gluteus maximus
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B. Identify the location and function of selected muscles.
SELECTED SKELETAL MUSCLES
MUSCLE
1. Biceps Brachii
2. Triceps Brachii
3. Sternocleidomastoid
4. Trapezius
5. Deltoid
6. Pectoralis Major
7. Latissimus Dorsi
8. Diaphragm
9. Gastrocnemius
10. Hamstring muscle
group
11. Quadriceps muscle
group
12. Gluteus Maximus
Unit Five – Muscular System
LOCATION
anterior aspect of the
upper arm
posterior aspect of the
upper arm
anterior aspect of the neck
posterior aspect of the
neck
covers the shoulder
chest
superficial muscle of the
thoracic and lumbar region
of the back
internal muscle that
separates the thoracic and
abdominal cavities
posterior aspect of the
lower leg
posterior aspect of the
thigh
anterior aspect of the thigh
buttocks region
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FUNCTION
flexes the forearm
extends the forearm
flexes the head and neck
extends or hyperextends
the head and neck
abducts the arm
adducts the arm
extends a flexed arm or
hyperextends the arm from
the anatomical position
deflects the diaphragm
inferiorly increasing
volume of the thoracic
cavity
plantar flexes the foot
flexes the lower leg
extends the lower leg
extends a flexed thigh or
hyperextends the thigh
from the anatomical
position
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Medical Anatomy and Physiology
5.10 Diseases and Disorders of the Muscular System
A. Fibromyalgia
A widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is
still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Most patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. Their muscles may
feel like they have been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch
and at other times they burn.
B. Muscular Dystrophy
A group of genetic diseases characterized by the atrophy of skeletal muscle
tissue. The most common form of muscular dystrophy is Duchenne's Muscular
Dystrophy in which the skeletal muscle is replaced by fat and fibrous tissue.
Death occurs as the respiratory or cardiac muscle weakens usually in the early
twenties. DMD typically occurs in men and is linked to the X-chromosome.
C. Shin Splints
Shin splints involve soreness and pain of the front lower leg due to excessive
straining of the flexor digitorum longus. It is often a result of walking up and
down hills or overbuilding the gastrocnemius. Tapping of the foot will help to
increase the strength of the front of the lower leg and the symptoms of pain
should disappear.
D. Muscle Strain
Muscle strain is characterized by muscle pain and involves the overstretching or
tearing of muscle fibers. Although muscle fibers and their associated connective
tissues are flexible, they can be torn if overstretched. The seriousness of the
injury depends on the degree of damage sustained by the tissues. In a mild
condition, only a few muscle fibers are injured and the fascia remains intact. In a
severe condition, many muscle fibers as well as the fascia are torn, and muscle
function may be lost completely. Symptoms include pain, bruising, and swelling.
In severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the damage.
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